To the magician and to most audiences card manipulations are the most fascintaing type of card trick. Since the manipulator's skill is the only determining factor, once a degree of card dexterity is acquired the performer can go on to learn tricks sure to entertain, at any time, with no further preperation, using any available deck of cards for the performance.

In this five-book series, Jean Hugard, master performer on stage and with small groups, teaches the passes, palming methods, shuffles, arm spreads, color reverses, sleights, flourishes, set-ups, and tricks in the best professional versions. After showing the basic manipulations he develops a number of exceptional tricks where the manipulations are used. a number of illustrations and step-by-step explanations teach each detail, as the trick would be given in a performance. By working through these tricks, from the simple to the complex, the magician learns his skills in a professional manner and also gains a wide repertoire of specific tricks. Throughout the book a great number if manipulations and over a hundred tricks are explained.